Public data | clear sources
Disability benefits in Kentucky
In Kentucky, 151,421 people received SSI (average $698.54 a month) and 163,589 disabled workers received SSDI (average $1,593.92) as of December 2025.
Benefit amounts depend on eligibility, income, and living arrangements. Use the source links to check the applicable period.
Quick reference
| Label | Value | As of | Source link | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal SSI maximum, individual (monthly) | $994 | 2026-01-01 | ssa-ssi-state-list | 2026-11-12 |
| Federal SSI maximum, couple (monthly) | $1,491 | 2026-01-01 | ssa-ssi-state-list | 2026-11-12 |
| Who pays the state SSI supplement | The state pays it | 2026-01-01 | ssa-ssi-state-list | 2026-11-12 |
| State-administered supplement amounts | Not verified | 2026-01-01 | ssa-supplement | 2026-11-12 |
| SSI recipients | 151,421 | 2025-12-31 | ssa-ssi-asr | 2026-11-12 |
| Average monthly SSI payment | $698.54 | 2025-12-31 | ssa-ssi-asr | 2026-11-12 |
| Recipients of SSA-paid state supplement | Not verified | 2025-12-31 | ssa-ssi-asr | 2026-11-12 |
| SSI recipients who are blind or disabled | 142,209 | 2025-12-31 | ssa-ssi-sc | 2026-11-12 |
| SSI recipients under age 18 | 22,414 | 2025-12-31 | ssa-ssi-asr | 2026-11-12 |
| SSI recipients also receiving Social Security | 49,875 | 2025-12-31 | ssa-ssi-sc | 2026-11-12 |
| SSDI disabled-worker beneficiaries | 163,589 | 2025-12-31 | ssa-oasdi-sc | 2026-11-12 |
| Total monthly SSDI benefits to disabled workers | $260,748,000 | 2025-12-31 | ssa-oasdi-sc | 2026-11-12 |
| Average monthly SSDI benefit (disabled workers) | $1,593.92 Estimate ssdi.totalMonthlyBenefits / ssdi.disabledWorkerBeneficiaries | 2025-12-31 | ssa-oasdi-sc | 2026-11-12 |
| Spouses and children receiving SSDI family benefits | 24,608 Estimate Table 2 Disability Spouses + Disability Children | 2025-12-31 | ssa-oasdi-sc | 2026-11-12 |
| Initial disability claims received (12 months) | 46,950 Estimate Sum of monthly Receipts (All Initial), FY2026 | 2026-09-25 | ssa-mowl | 2026-11-12 |
| Initial disability decisions (12 months) | 45,485 Estimate Sum of monthly Determinations (All Initial), FY2026 | 2026-09-25 | ssa-mowl | 2026-11-12 |
| Initial claims approved (12 months) | 13,716 Estimate Sum of monthly Allowances (All Initial), FY2026 | 2026-09-25 | ssa-mowl | 2026-11-12 |
| Initial approval rate (12 months) | 30.2% Estimate dds.favorableDeterminations / dds.determinations x 100 (initial claims, FY2026) | 2026-09-25 | ssa-mowl | 2026-11-12 |
| Reconsideration approval rate (12 months) | 9.8% Estimate Sum of Allowances (All Recon) / Sum of Determinations (All Recon) x 100, FY2026 | 2026-09-25 | ssa-mowl | 2026-11-12 |
| Initial claims pending | 11,975 | 2026-09-25 | ssa-mowl | 2026-11-12 |
| Backlog estimate (months of work) | 3.2 months Estimate dds.pending / (dds.determinations / 12): months of backlog at the FY2026 pace. Not an official processing time. | 2026-09-25 | ssa-mowl | 2026-11-12 |
| State short-term disability or paid medical leave program | No | 2026-11-12 | dol-wb-paid-leave | 2026-11-12 |
| Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities | Yes | 2026-01-01 | kff-medicaid-buyin | 2026-11-12 |
| Buy-in income limit | $2,609 per month (individual) | 2026-01-01 | kff-medicaid-buyin | 2026-11-12 |
| Buy-in asset limit | $4,000 (individual) | 2026-01-01 | kff-medicaid-buyin | 2026-11-12 |
| Buy-in premiums | Not verified | 2026-01-01 | kff-medicaid-buyin | 2026-11-12 |
| Disability prevalence (Census ACS) | Not verified | 2024-12-31 | census-acs-s1810 | 2026-11-12 |
| FY2024 favorable determination rate, all claims | 32.72% | 2024-09-30 | ssa-fywl | 2026-11-12 |
| FY2024 adult favorable determination rate | 29.39% | 2024-09-30 | ssa-fywl | 2026-11-12 |
| FY2024 SSI child allowance rate | 49.07% | 2024-09-30 | ssa-fywl | 2026-11-12 |
| Share of adults 18-64 receiving SSA disability benefits (FY2024) | 8.84% | 2024-09-30 | ssa-fywl | 2026-11-12 |
Sourced facts
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Federal SSI maximum, individual (monthly): $994 [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Federal SSI maximum, couple (monthly): $1,491 [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Who pays the state SSI supplement: The state pays it [3] Last verified 2026-11-12
- State-administered supplement amounts: Not verified [4] Last verified 2026-11-12
- SSI recipients: 151,421 [5] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Average monthly SSI payment: $698.54 [6] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Recipients of SSA-paid state supplement: Not verified [7] Last verified 2026-11-12
- SSI recipients who are blind or disabled: 142,209 [8] Last verified 2026-11-12
- SSI recipients under age 18: 22,414 [9] Last verified 2026-11-12
- SSI recipients also receiving Social Security: 49,875 [10] Last verified 2026-11-12
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)
- SSDI disabled-worker beneficiaries: 163,589 [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Total monthly SSDI benefits to disabled workers: $260,748,000 [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Average monthly SSDI benefit (disabled workers): $1,593.92 Estimate ssdi.totalMonthlyBenefits / ssdi.disabledWorkerBeneficiaries[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Spouses and children receiving SSDI family benefits: 24,608 Estimate Table 2 Disability Spouses + Disability Children[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
Disability decisions, last 12 months
- Initial disability claims received (12 months): 46,950 Estimate Sum of monthly Receipts (All Initial), FY2026[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Initial disability decisions (12 months): 45,485 Estimate Sum of monthly Determinations (All Initial), FY2026[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Initial claims approved (12 months): 13,716 Estimate Sum of monthly Allowances (All Initial), FY2026[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Initial approval rate (12 months): 30.2% Estimate dds.favorableDeterminations / dds.determinations x 100 (initial claims, FY2026)[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Reconsideration approval rate (12 months): 9.8% Estimate Sum of Allowances (All Recon) / Sum of Determinations (All Recon) x 100, FY2026[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Initial claims pending: 11,975 [6] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Backlog estimate (months of work): 3.2 months Estimate dds.pending / (dds.determinations / 12): months of backlog at the FY2026 pace. Not an official processing time.[7] Last verified 2026-11-12
State short-term disability / paid medical leave
- State short-term disability or paid medical leave program: No [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
Medicaid buy-in
Population
- Disability prevalence (Census ACS): Not verified [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
Disability decisions, fiscal year 2024
- FY2024 favorable determination rate, all claims: 32.72% [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
- FY2024 adult favorable determination rate: 29.39% [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
- FY2024 SSI child allowance rate: 49.07% [3] Last verified 2026-11-12
- Share of adults 18-64 receiving SSA disability benefits (FY2024): 8.84% [4] Last verified 2026-11-12
Conflicts and unverified data
Disability Determination Services agency: not verified. Not yet verified against the state DDS directory.
DDS website: not verified. Not yet verified against the state DDS directory.
State-administered supplement amounts: not verified. This state pays some or all of its supplement itself; amounts are not yet verified from the state agency.
Recipients of SSA-paid state supplement: not verified. Not yet mapped from the SSI Annual Statistical Report.
Buy-in premiums: not published. No premium reported.
Disability prevalence (Census ACS): not verified. The Census data API now requires a key; not yet ingested.
Frequently asked questions
How much is SSI in Kentucky in 2026?
The federal SSI maximum is $994 per month for one person and $1,491 for a couple. Kentucky runs its own supplement program, which Social Security does not pay; check with the state agency. From January of next year the federal maximum rises to $1,029.
What is the average SSI payment in Kentucky?
In December of last year, 151,421 people in Kentucky received SSI, and the average federally administered payment was $698.54 per month.
What is the SSDI approval rate in Kentucky?
In federal fiscal year ending this September, Kentucky's disability determination agency approved 30.2% of the initial disability claims it decided and 9.8% of reconsiderations. These rates cover SSDI and SSI disability claims together.
How long does a disability decision take in Kentucky?
Social Security does not publish an average initial decision time by state. Kentucky had 11,975 initial claims pending, which at the recent pace is roughly 3.2 months months of work. Treat this as an estimate.
What is the average SSDI payment in Kentucky?
163,589 disabled workers in Kentucky received Social Security disability benefits, averaging about $1,593.92 per month in December of last year.
Does Kentucky have state short-term disability?
No. Kentucky does not run a state short-term disability or paid medical leave insurance program that pays benefits today. Workers there rely on employer or private disability insurance.
Can I keep Medicaid while working with a disability in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky has a Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities. Income limit: $2,609 per month (individual).
How to apply
Review eligibility and apply directly through the responsible agency.